Local side Turnford Netball U16 National Squad ( and East Region Champions 2013) travelled North weekend of 11/12 May to take on the top 18 squads countrywide in their quest to be National Champions.

The event held at Northumbria University hosted teams from all over the country with Turnford pitched against Telstars and Weston Park Blades in the opening two games. Telstars started off well but once the devastating defence work of Turnford's Hatherly, Gillen and Collins bedded down , they began breaking down the Telstar attack time after time with the super fast attack of Newman, Gulvin, Hatley and Ramejkis finishing in style with a comfortable win..next up was the talented Weston Park Blades - the match was a battle from the outset going goal for goal- Turnford girls battled relentlessly but failed to adapt their long game against Weston Park Blades zone defence and this cost them dearly finishing the match 5 goals down.

In the afternoon they were re-pooled against Charnwood Sapphires, and their nemesis Tameside ( who they narrowly lost out to in u14 Nationals in the finals). Charnwood were dismissed with some blistering attack with Eastwood-Gray, Murchison, Dawes and Pryde taking the court for Turnford and getting their battle stripes. The final game of the day on Saturday was unfortunate as it was against Tameside -the girls battled hard, but were not consistently driving onto the ball in attack and Tameside capitalised on this breaking down the attack.

On Sunday this meant Turnford went into the pool battling for 7-12th position Nationwide and they certainly delivered. Coaches Rowlands Hatley and Gooden delivered some frank words about the zone defence work that was needed on court as well as their driving attacking play and the girls delivered.

The first game was against Telstars who Turnford had beated the previous day and Turnford delivered a blistering performance again sweeping them aside and applying pressure on every set play Telestars tried to set up. Next was Hucclecote - by now Turnford had settled into their defensive play and short game style leaving Hucclecote at times with no options on any ball and Turnford finished the game with over a 20 goal advantage.

This now left them playing for top spot in their group which would give them 7th place in the Country. Pitched against Nottingham Giants- this side has 4 NTL SUperleague players , three of whom also play for England. Turnford started off playing the long ball in attack which the two Notts defence began picking off leaving Turnford with a 6 goal deficit in the first quarter- coach Rowlands gave the girls strict instructions at the end of the first quarter to adapt their set play back to driving onto the ball in attack and pushing the players back appyling zone defence throughout the court - this tactic worked and by the end of the 3rd quarter the teams were drawing - Turnford then delivered the most sensational performance of the weekend in the final quarter almost playing with the opposition around the D before placing the ball for Gulvin and Ramejkis to finish it off...final whistle Turnford went top of their group with a 28-25 win finishing the Nationals overall in 7th.

Coaches player of the Nationals went to Beth Hatherly for her relentless defence and turnovers during the Competition.

Local side Turnford Netball U16 National Squad (and East Region Champions 2013) travelled North weekend of 11/12 May to take on the top 18 squads countrywide in their quest to be National Champions.The event held at Northumbria University hosted teams from all over the country with Turnford pitched against Telstars and Weston Park Blades in the opening two games.

Telstars started off well but once the devastating defence work of Turnford's Hatherly, Gillen and Collins bedded down, they began breaking down the Telstar attack time after time with the super fast attack of Newman, Gulvin, Hatley and Ramejkis finishing in style with a comfortable win. Next up was the talented Weston Park Blades - the match was a battle from the outset going goal for goal- Turnford girls battled relentlessly but failed to adapt their long game against Weston Park Blades zone defence and this cost them dearly finishing the match 5 goals down.

In the afternoon they were re-pooled against Charnwood Sapphires, and their nemesis Tameside (who they narrowly lost out to in u14 Nationals in the finals). Charnwood were dismissed with some blistering attack with Eastwood-Gray, Murchison, Dawes and Pryde taking the court for Turnford and getting their battle stripes. The final game of the day on Saturday was unfortunate as it was against Tameside -the girls battled hard, but were not consistently driving onto the ball in attack and Tameside capitalised on this breaking down the attack.

On Sunday this meant Turnford went into the pool battling for 7-12th position Nationwide and they certainly delivered. Coaches Rowlands Hatley and Gooden delivered some frank words about the zone defence work that was needed on court as well as their driving attacking play and the girls delivered. The first game was against Telstars who Turnford had beated the previous day and Turnford delivered a blistering performance again sweeping them aside and applying pressure on every set play Telestars tried to set up.

Next was Hucclecote - by now Turnford had settled into their defensive play and short game style leaving Hucclecote at times with no options on any ball and Turnford finished the game with over a 20 goal advantage. This now left them playing for top spot in their group which would give them 7th place in the Country. Pitched against Nottingham Giants- this side has 4 NTL Superleague players, three of whom also play for England. Turnford started off playing the long ball in attack which the two Notts defence began picking off leaving Turnford with a 6 goal deficit in the first quarter- coach Rowlands gave the girls strict instructions at the end of the first quarter to adapt their set play back to driving onto the ball in attack and pushing the players back appyling zone defence throughout the court - this tactic worked and by the end of the 3rd quarter the teams were drawing - Turnford then delivered the most sensational performance of the weekend in the final quarter almost playing with the opposition around the D before placing the ball for Gulvin and Ramejkis to finish it off...final whistle Turnford went top of their group with a 28-25 win finishing the Nationals overall in 7th.